Rindge/New Ipswich

Police investigate multiple burglaries

RINDGE — A New Ipswich man has been charged in connection with a burglary at a residence on Old New Ipswich Road, where it is alleged several thousand dollars in cash, personal credit cards and checks, as well as an assortment of electronics were stolen Friday. But police say it is unclear at this time whether or not the incident is tied to the dozens of burglaries reported in the past month throughout Cheshire County, including Troy, Keene, Marlborough, Fitzwilliam and Dublin.

New Ipswich police arrested and charged Jared Kot, 25, of New Ipswich with receiving stolen property Friday evening — the same day as the burglary — after Rindge police, with the assistance of New Ipswich police, pursued a tip from the victim and allegedly found Kot in possession of stolen electronics at a residence on Philmart Drive, where Kot is staying, Rindge Det. Jeffrey Seppala said by phone Tuesday. The victim told Rindge police that a New Ipswich resident had called to report suspicious activity and what appeared to be stolen items, not knowing that a burglary had just taken place, Seppala said.

Kot was released on $5,000 personal recognizance with a July 23 arraignment at the 8th Circuit Court in Jaffrey. Police investigation is ongoing and Rindge charges are likely forthcoming, Seppala said.

“We have a second suspect who we have a pending warrant for,” he said, adding that the man is believed to be homeless and living in a tent in the woods near Philmart Drive in New Ipswich.

Seppala went to New Ipswich just hours after the burglary was reported Friday to assist the neighboring agency with Kot’s arrest and to conduct an interview with Kot. That’s when, he said, he learned of a second suspect and, after going to the man’s tent, found a couple of video games believed to have been taken from the home on Old New Ipswich Road in Rindge.

Pry marks on the front door of the burglarized home indicate a sign of forced entry, the responding Rindge officer, Chris Martin, said Tuesday. The homeowner reported the burglary at approximately 4:30 p.m. Friday, after discovering that numerous items were missing from the home, Martin said.

The homeowner told police that all doors to the residence had been locked prior to the burglary and that no one was home at the time of the burglary, which is believed to have happened sometime during the day.

In addition to Friday’s incident, Seppala cited one other recent burglary reported to police on May 25 that remains unsolved. A homeowner of Tamarack Way reported that sometime in the two weeks prior someone had stolen thousands of dollars worth of jewelry and electronics. Seppala said police have identified two persons of interest.

Due to the increase in crime in the area, police are advising people to lock up and take extra caution in securing their valuables before they leave home. Seppala and Dublin Police Chief Jim Letourneau said Tuesday that they are sharing information with each other and police agencies throughout Cheshire County, in order to determine whether or not the burglaries throughout the region over the past month are connected.

In Dublin, police responded to a burglary alarm at a residence on Old Marlborough Road on June 13, after a resident reported someone had gained entry to the home through an open window and took a small amount of cash. Six days later, police received a report of a burglary at a home on Boulder Driver, where someone is believed to have stolen copper pipping sometime between June 8 and June 15, according to Letourneau.

Letourneau said it is important for people to report suspicious activity to police and get licence plate numbers, as well as people and vehicle descriptions. “Every little piece helps us put together the puzzle,” he said.

In Jaffrey, Police Chief Bill Oswalt said police are always concerned about the potential for burglaries, especially during the spring and summer months when people have their windows open and are out and about. In the past month, Oswalt said he has not seen a spike in the number of Jaffrey cases, but people should remain on alert regardless.

State police issued a press release on June 20 about the recent burglaries in Cheshire County, noting a potential link in the suspect’s means of entering residences. “On three separate occasions, it was reported to law enforcement that two persons knock on doors or ring the doorbell, and inquire about a lost dog. If the door is answered, the suspects engage in conversation about the dog, and exit the premises,” according to the press release.

One homeowner described the suspects as two white males, with short, buzz-cut style hair, in their 20s.

Alyssa Dandrea can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 228 or adandrea@ledgertranscript.com. She’s on Twitter at @alyssadandrea.